This discussion on being bouddhist or not when practicing dzogchen is nearly ridiculous ... for any reason some have exagerated the sense of it.

What one can say is that from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore buddhist or non buddhist is of no importance, but this is from the pov of our real nature.

Sönam

By understanding everything you perceive from the perspective of the view, you are freed from the constraints of philosophical beliefs.By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.- Longchen Rabjam -

Sönam wrote:This discussion on being bouddhist or not when practicing dzogchen is nearly ridiculous ... for any reason some have exagerated the sense of it.

What one can say is that from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore buddhist or non buddhist is of no importance, but this is from the pov of our real nature.

Sönam

I think it is fair to ask, as this thread is in the Lounge and so we don't have to view this from a Dzogchen or ChNNR perspective.

The assertion you make that 'Buddhist or non Buddhist is of no importance' expresses precisely the view that Buddhists here may wish to adopt and drop their 'Buddhist' label. I'm curious to know how many have been affected by that view and have dropped their 'Buddhist' label and how many feel no need to do so.I agree, there is no need to do so.

This is a Buddhist forum so there is no problem, surely, in asking others if they have changed from that view.

Blue Garuda wrote:Followers of the Dharma may take Refuge in Dharma and Sangha but the main issue is how we define 'Buddha' as an object of Refuge.

I take refuge in my real nature. This goes beyond, "Buddhist" or "Non-Buddhist".

Kevin

That's not the question I was posing. I wanted to know how many no longer consider themselves Buddhists. To answer that Dzogchen is beyond such distinctions has been aired here very often, but isn't what I was asking.

It's a simple question, surely. The two answers could be paraphrased as:

Sönam wrote:This discussion on being bouddhist or not when practicing dzogchen is nearly ridiculous ... for any reason some have exagerated the sense of it.

What one can say is that from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore buddhist or non buddhist is of no importance, but this is from the pov of our real nature.

Sönam

I think it is fair to ask, as this thread is in the Lounge and so we don't have to view this from a Dzogchen or ChNNR perspective.

The assertion you make that 'Buddhist or non Buddhist is of no importance' expresses precisely the view that Buddhists here may wish to adopt and drop their 'Buddhist' label. I'm curious to know how many have been affected by that view and have dropped their 'Buddhist' label and how many feel no need to do so.

No one would really disagree with: "from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore Buddhist or non Buddhist is of no importance." It does not mean that one has to drop any Buddhist labelling. Nor it does not mean that one has to not practice Buddhism.

Sönam

By understanding everything you perceive from the perspective of the view, you are freed from the constraints of philosophical beliefs.By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.- Longchen Rabjam -

Blue Garuda wrote:Followers of the Dharma may take Refuge in Dharma and Sangha but the main issue is how we define 'Buddha' as an object of Refuge.

I take refuge in my real nature. This goes beyond, "Buddhist" or "Non-Buddhist".

Kevin

That's not the question I was posing. I wanted to know how many no longer consider themselves Buddhists. To answer that Dzogchen is beyond such distinctions has been aired here very often, but isn't what I was asking.

It's a simple question, surely. The two answers could be paraphrased as:

Buddhist before encountering Dzogchen, Buddhist afterwards.

Buddhist before encountering Dzogchen teachings, no longer Buddhist.

You wanted to organize a poll

Sönam

By understanding everything you perceive from the perspective of the view, you are freed from the constraints of philosophical beliefs.By understanding that any and all mental activity is meditation, you are freed from arbitrary divisions between formal sessions and postmeditation activity.- Longchen Rabjam -

Simon E. wrote:I was a long term Buddhist ...nearly thirty years.I neither reject or accept that term for myself now.

I did not grow jaded. Just grew away. I do not urge anyone else to follow my example.

I guess the fundamental change must be one of Refuge.

After all, we may fit the requirements of many faiths through meeting behavioural expectations, but ultimately it is Refuge which identifies our specific faith.

Followers of the Dharma may take Refuge in Dharma and Sangha but the main issue is how we define 'Buddha' as an object of Refuge.

Is that a fair way to assess a change away from the label of 'Buddhist' ?

What is there to take Refuge from ? Its all just stuff.. And here I am blithely typing words that once would have had me reaching for the Gun Of Buddhist Righteousness that I kept to hand..Just to make one thing clear I did not reach this position as a result of reading Malcolm's posts.I had already reached that position. Reading Malcolm's posts resulted in my posting to this forum.

Sönam wrote:This discussion on being bouddhist or not when practicing dzogchen is nearly ridiculous ... for any reason some have exagerated the sense of it.

What one can say is that from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore buddhist or non buddhist is of no importance, but this is from the pov of our real nature.

Sönam

I think it is fair to ask, as this thread is in the Lounge and so we don't have to view this from a Dzogchen or ChNNR perspective.

The assertion you make that 'Buddhist or non Buddhist is of no importance' expresses precisely the view that Buddhists here may wish to adopt and drop their 'Buddhist' label. I'm curious to know how many have been affected by that view and have dropped their 'Buddhist' label and how many feel no need to do so.

No one would really disagree with: "from the pov of our real nature, where you come from is of no importance ... therefore Buddhist or non Buddhist is of no importance." It does not mean that one has to drop any Buddhist labelling. Nor it does not mean that one has to not practice Buddhism.

Sönam

I asked whether people had abandoned the Buddhist label, not whether it was necessary.

Maybe I'm just not expressing myself clearly. I feel like I am asking if anyone changed their car lately and being answered by people pointing out that it is not necessary.

Blue Garuda wrote:Followers of the Dharma may take Refuge in Dharma and Sangha but the main issue is how we define 'Buddha' as an object of Refuge.

I take refuge in my real nature. This goes beyond, "Buddhist" or "Non-Buddhist".

Kevin

I don't wish to be contrarian, but I must point out that "Buddhist" or "Non-Buddhist" means different things to different people--that's perhaps the most obvious "take-away" for anyone who's ever spent any time here at DW.

If one defines one's "Real Nature" as Buddha, then, perhaps, one is taking refuge in one's real nature when one is taking refuge in Buddha. I agree with My Cerulean Feathered Friend--how we define 'Buddha' makes a world of difference.

I don't think too many of us, for instance, take refuge in the organic remains of some Nepali-Prince-turned-Renunciate-turned-Awakened One who died 2500 years ago or so.....

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.

Blue Garuda wrote:Followers of the Dharma may take Refuge in Dharma and Sangha but the main issue is how we define 'Buddha' as an object of Refuge.

I take refuge in my real nature. This goes beyond, "Buddhist" or "Non-Buddhist".

Kevin

That's not the question I was posing. I wanted to know how many no longer consider themselves Buddhists. To answer that Dzogchen is beyond such distinctions has been aired here very often, but isn't what I was asking.

It's a simple question, surely. The two answers could be paraphrased as:

Buddhist before encountering Dzogchen, Buddhist afterwards.

Buddhist before encountering Dzogchen teachings, no longer Buddhist.

Hi BG,

I don't say "I am a Buddhist" nor do I say "I am not a Buddhist". I am not defined by those things.